Along with warming bathers on the long snowy nights here, "onsen" hot spring waters are also being used to grow asparagus in the winter by heating a greenhouse in a test being conducted by local officials and business representatives.
It marks the first time in Hokkaido that asparagus are being raised in a plastic greenhouse being heated only by onsen waters.
The vegetables are expected to be harvested later this month and supplied to a local hotel.
The experiment is being conducted by a group consisting of the Noboribetsu city government and the Noboribetsu Chamber of Commerce and Industry along with flower shop Hanazen, the Noboribetsu Grand Hotel and chemical company Hokkaido Soda Co.
For more, visit the Asahi Shimbun's website:
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